The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channel model of cyclic-buildup biofilm and traditional biofilm: The impact of friction, and detergent on cleaning and subsequent high-level disinfection

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of detergent and friction on removal of traditional biofilm and cyclic-buildup biofilm (CBB) from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channels and to evaluate the efficacy of glutaraldehyde to kill residual bacteria after cleaning. Methods: PTFE channels were exposed to artificial test soil containing 10 8 CFU/mL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis , followed by full cleaning and high-level disinfection (HLD) for five repeated rounds to establish CBB. For traditional biofilm, the HLD step was omitted. Cleaning with enzymatic and alkaline detergents, bristle brush, and Pull Thru channel cleaner were compared to a water flush only. Carbohydrate, protein, viable count, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were analyzed and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed. Results: In the absence of friction, cleaning of traditional biofilm and CBB was not effective compared to the positive control (Dunn-Bonferroni tests; P > .05) regardless of the detergent used. ATP, protein, and carbohydrate analyses were unable to detect traditional biofilm or CBB. The AFM analysis showed that fixation resulted in CBB being smoother and more compact than traditional biofilm. Conclusion: Friction during the cleaning process was a critical parameter regardless of the detergent used for removal of either traditional biofilm or CBB. Glutaraldehyde effectively killed the remaining microorganisms regardless of the cleaning method used.